Author's Note: This is about where they get... sad, for a little while at least. We've officially reached the build-up to the Bakugan Battle Brawlers first season. There was one major thing going on with Shun at that point, and I borrow from the Japanese outcome, not the more hopeful English one. Enjoy!
If you like the chapter, please leave a review. Please be aware that my replies are broken, so I can't actually respond to your reviews. If you have a question you want answered, send a PM.
Six: Dance Partners
If prompted, Dan would tell Shun, at great length, that the worst part about starting sixth grade was dance class. Every Friday, the sixth graders were dragged down to the gym, where they were forcibly partnered off and tortured with bad music into doing outdated dances in some strange mating ritual. Its only purpose to soothe the savage teachers.
Or at least, that's how Dan phrased it. And Shun would know, since he listened to the same rant about this class every Friday on both the way to and from the gym. And sometimes during gym. And sometimes at Little League. And sometimes… Well. Shun wouldn't get into it. But it was getting to be a bit tedious.
"Dan, please," said Shun, his voice tight and frustrated. He'd only gotten two hours of sleep last night. His mother had gone into the hospital again and his grandfather was irritated. Shun didn't blame him. He'd heard his grandfather on the phone last night – in Japanese, no less.
He'd said something that had kept Shun up the entire night. He'd said that no man should have to outlive his children. It had been that statement that made Shun realize his mother was dying. She was dying. And he couldn't stop it. He could only watch.
"Shun?" Shun blinked to see Dan staring at him, his hand pressed tightly to Shun's shoulder. The two were both still walking toward the gym, but Shun had spaced out. Which made sense, given his thoughts.
"You okay?" asked Dan. Shun managed a weak nod. He scrubbed his fingers through his hair and tried to shove the thoughts into the back of his consciousness. It was time for dance class, and, as much as Dan hated it, Shun liked it. He wouldn't have this class ruined by things he couldn't control.
Later, when he was alone, he'd deal with all of this. But not now. Not when there were things to be done. He was eleven. He could handle this.
Shun followed the rest of the class into the gym, ignoring Dan's quiet groans, and took his position on the painted black line. The teacher, a plump woman named Mrs. Peach, paired them all off down the line, until she reached Dan and Shun at the end.
"Looks like you two will be dancing together this week," she said. A few snickers went up down the line. Dan rolled his eyes and grabbed Shun's hands like the rest of the partners had.
"Today, we'll be working on ballroom dancing," said the teacher, walking around and correcting poses. "Now, we worked on this last week, but if you don't remember the steps, watch Teo and Mai, they have it perfect."
Shun watched the two twirl around the ballroom like they were meant for it. They moved in perfect harmony, like two sides of the same coin.
"Very good, very good," said Mrs. Peach. She clapped her hands together several times. "All right, the rest of you fall into line. You're expected to practice this for the next thirty minutes. Good luck."
Shun and Dan took their positions in the gym alongside everyone else.
"I'll lead," said Dan. And Shun nodded, because it seemed easier that way. The two stumbled their way through a handful of steps, only to stop when they kept stepping on each other's feet.
The teacher sighed. "Boys, boys, you need to focus," said Mrs. Peach. "Come now, one, two, three, one, two, three…" She attempted to lead them around again, but neither of them were into it.
Dan didn't like the class to begin with. Shun, who usually did, was too preoccupied with his own thoughts. And the knowledge that, soon, he might not even have school to occupy his time or his mind.
"Sorry," said Shun. "I'm not feeling well today."
Mrs. Peach's gaze was sympathetic. He had a feeling she knew why.
"That's all right, why don't you sit out?" she asked. Shun nodded and headed for a bench. He tried not to think about his mother. Tried not to think about the way Dan was looking at him. Found his mind drifting back to both.
He sighed inwardly and closed his eyes. Let his head lean against the wall.
He'd figure it out later. For now, he just didn't want to think at all.
